Contact:
Massimo Pecci
maxpecci@tin.it

Website: http://www.alpine.unibe.ch/alpenforum.html

Italy will host the Alpine Forum of the year 2000. This biennial meeting of the scientific body of the Alpine Convention (the scientific agreement among the Alpine countries), represents one of the most significant expressions of mountain scientific and socio-economic research. The Alpine Forum is a biannual meeting of Europe's top scientific research experts pertaining to various mountain studies disciplines. Their objective is to encourage an interdisciplinary exchange of information between researchers from Alpine countries and representatives for the Administrative and Political sectors. The ensuing dialogue aims to promote a more effective collaboration between the scientific, socio-economic and political worlds in order to achieve a well-balanced development of the Alpine communities.

This year's theme, "Alps: a place of transition - a place for life" will focus on the important topics of sustainable mobility, cultural exchanges and innovations, health aspects at medium altitudes, and scientific research in the European mountain regions. In addition, as a preparatory celebration of "2002 ­ The International Year of Mountains", space for a global exchange has been introduced for the first time ever for discussion of the topic: "Moving towards a worldwide cooperation in mountain research". Experts in scientific research from around the world will participate in this special session for presentation and analysis of the North-South relationships with reference to sustainable mountain development. Dr. Tage Michaelsen, Chief of the Forest Conservation, Research and Education Service of the FAO will chair the session (see below).

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Prof. Paolo Cerretelli
President
Alpine Forum 2000
c/o Ev-K²-CNR Project
Fax: +39 035 240697
E-mail: evk2cnr@spm.it

MOVING TOWARDS A WORLDWIDE COOPERATION IN MOUNTAIN RESEARCH
Thursday, September 14, 2000, 2.00 p.m.
Hotel Milano, Castione della Presolana (Bergamo), Italy

For the first time in the history of the Alpine Forum, space for an international discussion and global exchange on the topic: "Moving towards a worldwide cooperation in mountain research" has been identified. Experts from the worlds' top research and cooperation Institutions will analyze north-south relationships within the context of sustainable mountain development. This session has been especially planned in preparation for "2002 ­ International Year of Mountains".

With the participation of Hon. Guido Podestà, Vice President ­ European Parliament, Hon. Luciano Caveri, President of the Italian Committee for "2002 ­ International Year of Mountains", Italian and European Parliamentarian and Hon. Gianclaudio Bressa, President, Parliamentary Group "Friends of the Mountains", Dr. Tage Michaelsen, Chief of the Forest Conservation, Research and Education Service, FAO will chair the session. Each member of the expert panel will be invited to briefly illustrate the role of his or her Organization in north-south mountain research cooperation, after which the public will also be able to intervene with questions and comments directed towards the panel.

The following have so far been invited to take part in the expert panel:

• J. Gabriel Campbell, Director General ­ International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan
• Libor Jansky, Senior Academic Programme Officer, Environment and Sustainable Development - The United Nations University
• Bruno Messerli, President of the International Geographical Union - Department of Geography, University of Bern, Svizzera
• D. Jane Pratt, President and Chief Executive Officer - The Mountain Institute, USA
• Martin Price, Mountain Forum Chairman - Mountain Regions and Conservation, Environmental Changes Unit, University of Oxford, UK
• Thomas Schaaf, Programme Specialist, Bureau for Coordination of Environmental Services - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• Hubert Zandstra, General Director ­ International Potato Center, Perù

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